The prevention programs designed for drugs users, from theory to practice
The HIV infection prevention programs within the vulnerable groups in Romania are due to the non-governmental organizations that continue to do this work for years most of the times not know and not heard by anyone, for everybody's benefit, contributing to the limitations of HIV epidemics in Romania…
The "Integration" Association is one of the "youngest" organizations that develop activities designed for intravenous drug users (IDU). The experience of the team that coordinates these activities is remarkable, Integration being one of the few, if not the only foundation that has among its members former IDU. And then, who knows best which the specific needs of this group are? Which kind of interventions is the most appropriate, the most necessary?
The concept and programs of "Harm Reduction" represents a new issue throughout the past years in Romania, their development being in the beginning. Practically, it is based on supplying sterile equipment for injection (by this way reducing the risk of infection with HIV and B and C hepatitis), the distribution of informational and educational materials(materials regarding infections that can be transmitted by using in common injecting equipment: needles, seringes, filters; methods of steril injecting, avoiding overdoses), psychological support and reference to medical services and specialized assistance services (counseling and substitution services, treatment of overdoses and infections with sexual transmission).
Outreach activities represent one model of Harm Reduction interventions.
Most of the activities proposed by Integration consisted of direct interventions, which are deployed in the places where the users of injecting drugs gather and can be approached.
During the first trimester of the project, Integration succeeded in making, in relatively short time, an identification of the intervention areas, but also other activities with major impact: the opening of new intervention areas, the re-opening of another 3, the direct approach of the beneficiaries, the distribution of sterile equipment for injection and the reference of the beneficiaries to other care and support services. Not the last, they succeeded to make and counsel their beneficiaries to a support group that encourages the rehabilitation and social reintegration of the drug users.
Because only a good knowledge of the specific problems of the beneficiaries may stand at the base of choosing the most efficient intervention method, Integration applies to its beneficiaries an examination paper that contains useful and orientating questions. Their answers pencil a certain type of behavior and a certain category of needs, allowing later realization of some behavior studies and some intervention and support methods well accepted by the beneficiaries.
2 weeks ago, I had the opportunity to accompany the Integration team to one of their outreach activities. At the beginning a little reticent, the beneficiaries accepted me quickly in the foundation's team, answering my questions and requesting my advice.The guys from Integration and their car are well known in the areas we went. A short stop was enough and the car was surrounded by beneficiaries: "Do you have some syringes for me? How about "Lasonil"? Look, see what I got here? What should I do?" Marian, approximately 25 years old was asking, old heroin user. We explain that the agnail caused by the repeated injection and not exactly sterile of the drug in the network of the inter-digital vines of the hand must be taken care of by a medical person.
..."this service is very useful, we need it", Constantin, who also has a physical disability tell us. "I would like to quit for good, but I would need more help from my family..." - this is another reason for those from Integration to encourage the participation of the beneficiaries to the support groups.
"A lot of them have problems with their families, friends, and colleagues. Their attitude changes very much when they find out that the one next to them is a drug user..." Camil Dumitriu - project coordinator tells me. "This is exactly why we encourage them to come and to discuss about their problems", he continues. "It is very important that all of us, the community, to know them, to understand them, to help them".
The community's information and involvement represents an important step forward for the continuation of this program. Thus is way Simona Popa - who coordinates the outreach team of the Integration foundation, held the course "The discrimination in the press - the journalists' way of approach, of the themes regarding the vulnerable groups, especially IDU in Romania."
Congratulations to the guys from Integration for the intervention model they made and for their dedication and professionalism not only for the benefit of this marginalized category of the society but also for our benefit, contributing to the limitation of the HIV epidemics in Romania!
The ones interested in supporting the activity of the Integration Foundation team can contact them directly at camil.dumitriu@integration.org.ro (Camil Dumitriu, Coordinator).
Photo: the outreach team (Simona Popa and Claudiu Ilariean) ready to leave in a new syringes exchange intervention. Photo copyright: INTEGRATION
By Mihaela Stefanescu, Liaison Officer, Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation
